SODOM - OBSESSED BY CRUELTY (1986)

Here is the German first print vinyl on Steamhammer sadly my copy is missing the lyrics insert.

This was their second release after the debut mini-LP In The Sign Of Evil (1985). Both these releases are brilliant and if one is to compare Sodom in 1986 with the other German Thrash Metal bands like Kreator or Destruction I think Sodom had a more Black/Speed Metal sound back then.

The Obsessed By Cruelty album and Sodom certainly had an influence on the second wave of Black Metal bands from Norway and Sweden.

Euronymous of Mayhem used to mention them in very high regard in interviews and just take the song called Deathlike Silence is on the Obsessed By Cruelty album.

The band started 1981 in the West German town Gelsenkirchen by Angel Ripper (bass/ later vocals), Aggressor (vocals/guitar) and Bloody Monster (drums) but was shortly replaced with Witch Hunter. Sodom were influenced by bands like Venom & Motörhead.


Sodom had released two demos before being signed to a record label. Witching Metal (1982) and Victims of Death (1984).

Later Aggressor was replaced by Grave Violator (1984-85) on guitar who was replaced by Destructor (1985-86) replaced by Ahäthoor (1986) replaced by Frank Blackfire (1987-89) that returned to the band in 2018. During the 90's Sodom used a bunch of different guitar players too many to list...

Actually the Obsessed By Cruelty album was recorded twice. The North American release on Metal Blade Records is is the first rejected Berlin recording that was “accidentally used” somehow.

That recording was also used when they first released the compilation CD In The Sign Of Evil
/ Obsessed By Cruelty in 1988. All very confusing...

The one I got the Steamhammer vinyl release is the second recording in Studio Hilpoltstein with the exclusive song After The Deluge that doesn't appear on the Metal Blade release.

When it was reissued on vinyl in 2016 both the US and German versions appears on the 2 x LP.

On their following albums Sodom left the satanic lyrics & titles for a more war themed approach. They released many more great ones but more about those records in another post.

Obsessed By Cruelly in any edition is a must have if you’re into early Black/Speed Metal of the finest sort.